Carry Bag With Security Feature

ABSTRACT

A handbag includes one or more security features or anti-theft features. The purse includes a housing having a first side and second side and an internal region for storage of items therein. The housing may have a lock mounting loop attached to the second side. The purse may have a carrying strap or carrying chain having distal ends. One end of strap/chain may be attached to a first side of the handbag and the second the other end of the strap/chain is lockable to the second side of the handbag. The anti-theft features enables the handbag owner to leave their bag on the back of their chair to prevent the bag from being stolen by wrapping the strap or carry chain at least once around a support on the chair and locking the strap or chain and the pull structure to a locking feature.

FIELD

The present invention relates to carry bag having a security feature, in particular to a purse with a locking system.

BACKGROUND

A purse can contain a treasure trove of valuables. A purse commonly contains a wallet with credit cards and cash, phone, keys, and more. If an unauthorized individual were to steal a purse, they would have access to the owner's personal information and important objects, such as a mobile phone.

At restaurants, the most common spot for women to leave their bags is on the back of their chairs. But keeping it behind the person leaves the purse vulnerable to being swiped by a thief walking by the chair. The owner may rest bag on the floor, and a thief could casually pick it up or kick it away while the owner's head is turned away. A purse can also be a wide-open target for pickpockets who attempt to take items from the purse without taking the purse itself. Currently designed purses, especially those for mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA) and similar objects, require some level of attentiveness and dexterity from the user to access the object in the container. Also, with existing purse designs, users have to compromise between accessibility and security of a contained object.

SUMMARY

In light of the foregoing background, the following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.

In one aspect, a handbag or a purse includes one or more security features or anti-theft features. The purse includes a housing having a first side and second side and an internal region for storage of items therein. The housing may have a lock mounting loop affixed to the second side. The purse may have a flexible elongated carrying member having a first and second opposing distal ends. The first distal end of strap being fixedly attached to a first side of the housing and the second distal end of the strap being removably couplable to the second side of the housing. A lock having a first lock portion attached to the mounting loop and an opposing second lock portion attached to the second of the strap.

In another aspect, a handbag or a purse includes one or more alternative security features or anti-theft features. The purse includes a housing having a first side and a second side and an internal region for storage of items or objects therein. The interior region having an opening being selectably sealable with a directionally sensitive connector system having a pull structure configured to slidably seal or allow access to the interior region when the connector system in an open position and to close the interior region when the connector system in a closed position. In another aspect, the purse may have a carrying strap having a first and a second opposing distal ends. The first end of strap being fixedly attached to a first side of the housing and the second end of the strap being removably couplable to the second side of the housing. A locking device may be movable between a locked state wherein the second end of the strap and pull structure are fixedly attached to the second side of the housing to prevent the removal of the second end of the strap from the housing and movement of the directionally sensitive connector system from the closed position to the open position. The locking device may have unlocked state enabling the removal of the second end of the strap from the housing and movement of the directionally sensitive connector system from the closed position to the open position.

One general aspect includes a carry bag with a security feature, including: a housing having a first side, a second side, a bottom end, and an internal region for storage of items therein, the housing having an exterior pathway extending between the first side, the bottom end, and the second side. A flexible elongated interconnected member may have a first distal end and a second distal end. In one aspect, the flexible elongated interconnected member may be disposed within the exterior pathway between the first side, the bottom end, and the second side. A locking device may be provided having a lock body with a first lock portion and a laterally disposed second lock portion, the first lock portion being attached to the first distal end of the flexible elongated interconnected member and the second lock portion being attached to the second distal end of the flexible elongated interconnected member; the flexible elongated interconnected member being removably couplable the housing with the locking device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying bag, such as a handbag, with a security anti-theft configuration according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the carry bag in FIG. 1 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example locking device which may be used with a carry bag according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are an enlarged partial views of a security configuration of the carry bag of FIG. 1 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first alternative carry bag with a security anti-theft configuration according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first alternative carry bag in FIG. 5 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of a security anti-theft configuration of the carry bag of FIG. 5 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is front view of a second alternative carry bag with a security anti-theft configuration in a closed position according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is front view of the second alternative carry bag with a security system in an opened position according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary top views of carry bag and zipper system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 illustrates schematic views of a carry bag with a security anti-theft configuration in-use secured to a chair according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1-2, 4A-B, 10, and 12 illustrate a carrying bag, handbag or purse 100 with anti-theft features according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a view of a carrying bag or purse 100 which includes a housing 110 having a first side 112 and second side 114. The purse 100 includes an interior compartment 120 configured to carry various objects inside. There are a wide variety of implementations in which the interior compartment 120 may be incorporated into a pouch, a bag, or another item designed to carry objects. In one construction, the purse 100 may have a flexible elongated carrying member 130 in the form of a carrying strap for transport and security. The housing 110 and a flexible elongated carrying member 130 may be made of a flexible sheet material, such as leather, woven fabric, woven sheet material, Kevlar and the like. In another construction, the flexible elongated carrying member 130 may be made of a chain with interlocking links. In another construction, the flexible elongated carrying member 130 may include a flexible layer of cut resistant Kevlar material or other cut resistant material sandwiched between layers of leather.

In one construction, purse 100 includes a lockable and slidable pull structure 210 of a zipper system 200 (see FIG. 10) to prevent linear movement of the pull structure 210 or pull tab 210′ from opening the interior compartment 120. As shown in FIG. 10, the zipper system 200 generally includes two lateral rows 217, 219 of protruding teeth 212, which may be made to interdigitate, linking the rows 217, 219, carrying metal teeth or plastic teeth. The zipper system 200 can have flexible strips of interlocking projections (such as teeth 212) with a slider 215 and pull tab 210′. The teeth 212 can be either individual shaped or shaped from a continuous coil. The slider 215 moves along the rows of teeth. Inside the slider is a Y-shaped channel that meshes together to close the zipper 200 or separates the opposing rows of teeth to open the zipper 200 depending on the direction of the slider's movement. Zipper system 200 can be permanently secured to the illustrated portion of the purse 100 via a permanent sealer such as glue, adhesive tape, or stitching, for example.

In one other construction, the interior compartment 120 allows for uninhibited accessibility, while maintaining the security of the contained objects. The interior compartment has an access opening 150 may be arranged in a linear geometry for enabling efficient movement for being selectably sealable or removable secured with a linear directionally mechanical sensitive connector system 200, such as a zipper system, having a pull structure 210 (e.g., pull tab 210′ with a hole 211) or distal chain pull 210 (See FIG. 4A) configured to slidably seal to close the interior compartment when the connector system 200 in a closed position or allow access to the interior compartment when the connector system 200 in an open position.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, in one construction, the locking device 300 includes a lock body 310 having a first end 320 with first loop 330 and a second end 340 with a second loop 350. The first loop 330 and second loop 350 are directionally opposing each other on the lock body 310. The second loop 350 (e.g., shackle in one construction) is configured to be releasable from the lock body 310 with a pivotal lock portion or pivotal end portion 355. The pivotal end portion 355 may be passed through an opening of another object, such as a link of a pull chain 210 or pull tab 210′. In other constructions, the one loop can be provided on the lock body 310. Further, the loop or loops 330, 350 can be metal of other shapes, such as rectangular or square. In one construction, the lock body 310 may include a locking mechanism 360, such as a key lock (not shown) to release or secure the second loop 350 with pivotal end portion 355. In another construction, the lock body 310 may include an alternative locking mechanism 360, such as a combination lock to release or secure the second loop 350. In the construction of the combination lock, a sequence of symbols, such as numbers, is used to open the locking device 300. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial or multiple rotatable dials 370 which interact with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed symbols which directly interact with the locking mechanism 360.

In one construction, the purse 100 may have the carrying strap 130 having a first distal end 132 and a second distal end 134 being opposed to each other. The first end 132 of the strap 130 may be fixedly attached to a first side 112 of the purse housing 110 with a first loop structure 116. This attachment may be a direct attachment to the housing 110 or an indirect attachment. In one indirect attachment, a ring structure 140 connects the first side 112 of the housing 110 with the first loop structure 116 to the first distal end 132 of the strap 130. The second end 134 of the strap 130 may be removably couplable via locking device 300 to the second side 114 of the housing 110 with a second loop structure 118. The ring structure 140 may be constructed from a wide array of metallic materials to prevent cutting by a knife or scissors, such as steel, aluminum, metal alloy and gold, for example.

In one implementation, the locking device 300 may be movable between a locked state wherein the second end 134 of the strap 130 and the pull structure 210 are fixed to the second side 114 of the housing 110 to prevent the removal of the second end 134 of the strap 130 from the housing 110 and prevent movement of the directionally sensitive linear connector system 200 from the closed position to the open position. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the locking device 300 may have an unlocked state enabling the removal of the second end 134 of the strap 130 from the housing 110 and removal of the pull structure 210 (e.g., chain or ring) to allow movement of the directionally sensitive connector system 200 along the access opening 150 from the closed position to the open position to enable access to the interior compartment 120 of the purse 100. In operation, FIG. 4B, purse 100 includes a lockable and slidable pull tab 210′ of a zipper system 200 in the between a locked state to prevent linear movement of the pull tab 210′ from opening the interior compartment 120 and an unlocked state the closed position to the open position to enable access to the interior compartment 120 of the purse 100.

In one non-limiting example shown in FIG. 11, the carry strap 130 can be intertwined around part of a chair back or chair leg to secure the purse 100. This feature enables the purse owner to leave their bag or purse on the back of their chair to prevent the purse 100 from being stolen by wrapping the strap 130 at least once around a support on the chair 1000 and locking the second end of the strap 134 and the pull structure 210 to the locking device 300. Nevertheless, the carry strap 130 can be intertwined around part of a table or other secure object to prevent theft of the purse 100 while limiting a theft to steal the table.

FIGS. 5-7, 11 and 13 illustrate a carrying bag or purse 400 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a view of a carrying bag or purse 400 that may comprise a housing 410 having a bottom end 411 extending between a first side 412, and a second side 414. Housing 410 has a pivotal flap 419 which covers an interior compartment 420. As shown in FIG. 7, the flap 419 is movable to an opened position to enable access to the interior compartment 420 that is configured to carry various objects inside. There are a wide variety of implementations in which the interior compartment 420 may be incorporated into a pouch, a bag, or another item designed to carry objects. In one construction, the purse 400 may have a flexible elongated interconnected member 430 such as an exterior flexible interconnected series of metallic links for transport and security to prevent cutting by a knife or scissors. In one construction, the metal links 430 can be provided in the form a chain. Suitable materials for the molded metallic links 430 may include steel, aluminum, gold, and metal alloys, for example. The housing 410 may be made of a flexible sheet material, such as leather, woven fabric, woven sheet material and the like.

In one construction, purse 400 includes a lockable and slidable pull structure 510 of a zipper system 500 to prevent linear movement of the pull structure 510 from opening the interior compartment. In one construction, purse 400 includes a lockable and slidable pull structure 510 of a zipper system 500 (see FIG. 11) to prevent linear movement of the pull structure 510 from opening the interior compartment 420. As shown in FIG. 11, the zipper system 500 generally includes two lateral rows 517, 519 of protruding teeth 512, which may be made to interdigitate, linking the rows 517, 519, carrying metal teeth or plastic teeth. The zipper system 500 can have flexible strips of interlocking projections (such as teeth 512) with a slider 515 and pull chain 510. The teeth 512 can be either individual shaped or shaped from a continuous coil. The slider 515 moves along the rows of teeth. Inside the slider is a Y-shaped channel that meshes together to close the zipper 500 or separates the opposing rows of teeth to open the zipper 200 depending on the direction of the slider's movement. In one construction, the interior compartment 420 allows for uninhibited accessibility, while maintaining the security of the contained objects.

Referring to FIG. 7, the interior compartment 420 has an access opening 450 that may be arranged in a linear geometry for enabling efficient movement to be selectably sealable or removable secured with a linear directionally mechanical sensitive connector system 500, such as a zipper system, having a pull structure 510 or distal pull 510 configured to slidably seal to close the interior compartment when the connector system 500 in a closed position or allow access to the interior compartment when the connector system 500 in an open position. In one construction, the pull structure 510 may be a flexible interconnected series of metal links, such as a chain. In one construction, the pull structure 510 may be a pull tab with an opening, a ring, or a combination of a chain and ring at the distal end. Suitable materials for the molded metal links of pull structure 510 may include steel, aluminum, gold, and metal alloys, for example.

In one construction, the second chain 480 is disposed in a carrier pathway 435 extending from the first side 412, bottom end 411 to second side 414 on the exterior of the housing 410. The carrier pathway 435 may have a wide variety of constructions, such as a continuous tube or a series of spaced rib members 434 with linear openings 437. On the first side 412 of the housing 410, the second chain 480 has a first distal link 482 connected to a first ring structure 416. Likewise on the second side 414 of the housing 410, the second chain 480 has a second distal link 484 connected to a second ring structure 418. The first ring structure 416 and the second ring structure 418 may be constructed from a wide array of materials, such as steel, aluminum, gold, metal alloys for example.

In one construction, the flexible interconnected series of metal links 430 (e.g., carry chain) may have a first distal end 432 (e.g., first chain link) and second distal end 436 (e.g., last chain link) being opposed to each other. The first distal end 432 of the chain 430 is fixedly attached to a first side 412 of the purse housing 410 with the first ring structure 416. The second distal end 436 of the chain 430 is removably couplable via locking device 300 to the second side 414 of the housing 410. In another construction, in lieu of two chains, carry chain 430 and second chain 480, a continuous chain can be provided to extend from the first distal link 484 to the second distal end 436. In this way, a single chain is used for both carrying the purse 400 and security features.

Referring to FIG. 7, in one implementation, the locking device 300 may be movable between a locked state wherein the second distal end 436 of the carry chain 430 and pull structure 510 are fixed to the second side 414 of the housing 410 to prevent the removal of the second end 436 of the carry chain 430 from the housing 410 and movement of the directionally sensitive connector system 500 from the closed position to the open position. The locking device 300 may have unlocked state enabling the removal of the second end 436 of the carry chain 430 from the housing 410 and removable of the pull structure 510 to allow movement of the directionally sensitive connector system 500 (e.g., zipper system) along the access opening 450 from the closed position to the open position to enable access to the interior compartment 420 of the purse 400.

In one non-limiting example shown in FIG. 13, the carry chain 430 can be intertwined around part of a chair back or chair leg to secure the purse 400. This feature enables the purse owner to leave their purse is on the back of their chair or chair leg to prevent the purse from being stolen by wrapping the chain 430 at least once around a support on the chair 1000 and locking the second end of the chain 436 and the pull structure 510 to the locking device 300. Nevertheless, the carry chain 430 can be intertwined around part of a table or other secure object to prevent theft of the purse 400 while limiting the theft of the entire table and purse 400.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 14 illustrate a carrying bag or purse 600 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In one construction, the purse 600 may include zipper system 200 and 500 as described and shown with purse 100 and 400, respectively. The carrying bag or purse 600 may comprise a housing 610 having a bottom end 611 extending with between a first side 612, and second side 614. Housing 610 has a pivotal flap 619 shown in a closed position P1 which covers interior compartment 620. As shown in FIG. 9, the flap 619 is movable to an opened position P2 to enable access to the interior compartment that is configured to carry various objects inside. In one construction, the purse 600 may have an exterior interconnected flexible series of metal links 630 for security to prevent cutting by a knife or scissors. In one construction, the metal links 630 can be provided in the form a security chain. The security chain 630 has a first distal link 682 connected to a first ring structure 616 and a second distal link 684 connected to a second ring structure 618.

In one construction, the purse 600 may have a carrying strap 630 connected to the housing 610 via a first ring 613 and a second ring 615 for transport and security. The housing 610 and carrying strap 630 may be made of a flexible sheet material, such as leather, woven fabric, woven sheet material, Kevlar and the like.

As shown in FIG. 8, the exterior face of flap 619 has a first loop structure 690 interconnected with the first loop 330 of the locking device 300. The housing 610 also includes a lower loop structure 695. The first loop structure 690 is fixedly attached the purse housing 610 with the first loop 330 of locking device 300. The second loop structure 695 of the housing 610 is removably couplable via locking device 300 with second loop 350. A security strap 700 of the housing 610 extends laterally from the first side 612 to second side 614 of purse 600. The strap 700 can be made of leather, Kevlar and the like. In another construction, the strap 700 may include a flexible layer of cut resistant Kevlar material or other cut resistant material sandwiched between layers of leather. In use, when the flap 619 is in the closed position P1, it is disposed underneath the security strap 700 to prevent pivotal movement of flap 619 and to further secure the interior compartment of the purse 600.

Referring to the security chain 630 in FIG. 8, a first ring structure 616 is fixedly attached the purse housing 610 via the first ring 613. The second ring structure 618 is removably couplable via locking device 300 with second loop 350 so that the security chain 630 can be removed to place it around other objects. In one non-limiting example, the security chain 630 can be intertwined around part of a chair 2000 to secure the purse 600 (see FIG. 14). This feature enables the purse owner to leave their purse on the back of their chair or side of a chair and prevent the purse from being swiped by anyone walking by the chair.

While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred and exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A carry bag with a security feature, comprising: a housing having a first side and a second side and an internal region for storage of items therein; the second side of the housing having a loop structure; a flexible elongated carrying member having a first distal end and a second opposing distal end; the first distal end of the carrying member being fixedly attached to the first side of the housing and the second distal end of the carrying member being removably couplable to the second side of the housing with a locking device; and the locking device having a lock body with a first lock portion and a laterally disposed second lock portion, the first lock portion being attached to the second side of the housing via the loop structure and the second lock portion being attached to the second distal end of the carrying member.
 2. The carry bag in accordance with claim 1, wherein the internal region of the housing is enclosed with a linear opening being selectably sealable with a zipper system having a pull structure configured to slidably seal or allow access to the internal region when the connector system is in an open position and to close the internal region when the connector system is in a closed position.
 3. The carry bag in accordance with claim 2, wherein the pull structure is configured to be removable coupled to the locking device.
 4. The carry bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the pull structure further comprises a series of interconnected links in which a distal link is connected to the locking device.
 5. The carry bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the flexible elongated carrying member comprises a carrying strap with Kevlar.
 6. The carry bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the flexible elongated carrying member comprises a series of interconnected links.
 7. The carry bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first lock portion of the locking device includes a pivotal lock portion.
 8. The carry bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the locking device comprises a combination lock with a plurality of rotatable dials.
 9. A carry bag with a security feature, comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side, a bottom end, and an internal region for storage of items therein, the housing having an exterior pathway extending between the first side, the bottom end, and the second side; a flexible elongated interconnected member having a first distal end and a second distal end; the flexible elongated interconnected member being disposed within the exterior pathway between the first side, the bottom end, and the second side; the first distal end and the second distal end being disposed at the distal ends of the exterior pathway; and a locking device having a lock body with a first lock portion and a laterally disposed second lock portion, the first lock portion being attached to the first distal end of the flexible elongated interconnected member and the second lock portion being attached to the second distal end of the flexible elongated interconnected member; the flexible elongated interconnected member being removably couplable the housing with the locking device.
 10. The carry bag in accordance with claim 9, wherein the internal region of the housing is enclosed with a linear opening being selectably sealable with a directionally sensitive connector system having a pull structure configured to slidably seal or allow access to the internal region when the connector system is in an open position and to close the internal region when the connector system is in a closed position.
 11. The carry bag in accordance with claim 10, wherein the exterior pathway further comprises a plurality of spaced rib members.
 12. The carry bag in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first lock portion of the locking device includes a pivotal lock portion.
 13. The carry bag in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pull structure is configured to be removable coupled to the locking device.
 14. The carry bag in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pull structure further comprises a chain.
 15. The carry bag in accordance with claim 10, wherein the locking device comprises a combination lock with a plurality of rotatable dials.
 16. The carry bag in accordance with claim 10, wherein the flexible elongated interconnected member further comprises a first chain and a second chain.
 17. A carry bag with a security feature, comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side, a bottom end, and an internal region for storage of items therein and a pivotal flap; the pivotal flap including a first loop and the housing having a lower loop disposed in a direction of the bottom end; a flexible elongated interconnected member having a first distal end and a second distal end; the first distal end of the interconnected member being fixedly attached to the first side of the housing and the second distal end of the interconnected member being removably couplable to the housing with a locking device; the locking device having a lock body with a first lock portion and a laterally disposed second lock portion, the first lock portion being attached to first loop of the housing and the second lock portion being attached to the second distal end of the flexible elongated interconnected member; and a laterally disposed security strap extending from the first side of the housing to the second side of the housing, wherein the pivotal flap is configured to be disposed underneath the security strap in a closed position.
 18. The carry bag in accordance with claim 17, wherein the internal region of the housing is enclosed with a linear opening being selectably sealable with a directionally sensitive connector system having a pull structure configured to slidably seal or allow access to the internal region when the connector system is in an open position and to close the internal region when the connector system is in a closed position and the security strap including Kevlar.
 19. The carry bag in accordance with claim 17, wherein the second lock portion of the locking device includes a pivotal lock portion.
 20. The carry bag in accordance with claim 19, wherein the locking device comprises a combination lock with a plurality of rotatable dials. 